Missing Jack O'Sullivan's family begin new search for key clue in hunt for vanished student

Jack O'Sullivan, 23, has been missing from Bristol since earlier this year. His family have now issued an update as they ramp up the search following his disappearance

The family of missing student Jack O'Sullivan are two weeks into a new search programme following "recent findings", it has been revealed.

Jack, 23, vanished after leaving a party more than six months ago in Bristol. He was last seen at around 3.15am on March 2 in the area of Brunel Lock Road/Brunel Way. The student's disappearance has remained a mystery, despite multiple searches by the police.

But now, a group of detectorists have been working in the area as they desperately try to locate his phone. It comes after phone company EE passed on data about Jack's phone to his family.

According to one of the campaign leaders, Jayne Caple, dog handlers will also be present in the specialist search. She shared the information on the 'Find Jack' Facebook page and said: ''We’re very conscious that we are unusually quiet so apologies for that.

"There are things happening in the background and while we can’t go into much detail we are keen to share. As a result of some of the recent findings, we have a search programme that started two weeks ago and will continue into December.

''There was a large-scale search two weekends ago involving a team of technicians with metal detectors. Pretty much the whole day was spent searching for any trace of Jack’s phone or any other of his possessions that could have been picked up by their equipment.

"Despite some heroic efforts and a lot of ground covered, nothing was found. Some of this team will be joining the dog handlers who will be back to cover the remaining areas over the course of several weekends in the run-up to the end of the year.

"We aren’t able to be specific on the target areas for obvious reasons, we’re sure you will understand the reasons why not. Everything we are doing is planned and coordinated so while we really appreciate that some people want to do mass organised public searches, right now it wouldn’t be right due to the technical, specialist searches happening.

''I know Catherine, Alan and Ben want to extend their thanks for your help in getting them this far. And also if you are out walking they ask for you to be extra vigilant and search where you can and as safely as you can.

''And on behalf of us admins, thank you for your patience, support, encouragement and downright tenacity. We wouldn’t be anywhere without you. And the people involved in our searches to date - such generous, warm-hearted and kind people, thank you x''

''I know Catherine, Alan and Ben want to extend their thanks for your help in getting them this far. And also if you are out walking they ask for you to be extra vigilant and search where you can and as safely as you can.

''And on behalf of us admins, thank you for your patience, support, encouragement and downright tenacity. We wouldn’t be anywhere without you. And the people involved in our searches to date - such generous, warm-hearted and kind people, thank you x''